AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn and Jarquez Hunter made for a perfect match. A program built on hard work, a running back revered by coaches and teammates for his work ethic.
“It made me into a hard worker,” Hunter said of his four seasons on the Plains from 2021-24. “Working for everything I wanted, competing with everybody. I feel like they did a great job with that.”
Hunter carried his famed work habits into the offseason, preparing for the NFL Draft by working out twice per day, six days a week.
“We run in the morning and we lift weights in the evening,” he said. “Pretty much every day, and then a rest day on Sunday.”
Starting next season, Sunday will be a workday for Hunter, whose pre-draft priority was convincing NFL decision makers that he’s equally adept at receiving.
“I’ve been working on pass catching,” said Hunter, who made a career-best 21 receptions last season and totaled 68 in his Auburn career, third most in program history among running backs. “Showing the skills here and at the Combine that I could catch was really important.”
At Auburn’s Pro Day, Hunter wanted to display his pass catching and explosiveness, intent on convincing NFL organizations to invest a draft pick on him.
“I’m very competitive and I’m going to give you everything I’ve got every time,” he said.
Auburn fans have seen those traits firsthand the past four seasons. Hunter ranks fourth in program history with 3,371 career rushing yards and a 6.27 yards-per-carry average.
“Coming here, getting a chance to play early and show people what I can do on the field,” said Hunter, who trails only Bo Jackson, Carnell Williams and James Brooks in Auburn’s career rushing ranking. “I’m behind a lot of great running backs who played here and in the NFL. I feel like that’s a great accomplishment for me. I feel like I can do that as well.”
At the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Hunter showcased his speed, running a 4.44 40-yard dash.
“It was pretty good,” he said of the four-day event in late February and early March. “It was long. Getting to go out there and talk to all the coaches and the people you meet. You meet new people and make relationships.”
Throughout the pre-draft process, Hunter stressed his competitiveness.
“I don’t like to lose,” he said. “All the pressure is off now. Now, we’ve got to sit and wait and see what happens.”
Hunter returned to Pat Dye Field on A-Day to receive the Pat Sullivan Award as Auburn’s offensive player of the year for 2024, with this week’s NFL Draft on his mind.
“I’m really excited,” Hunter said. “It’s almost here. Just have to take it in and enjoy the moment while it’s here.”